Personal transport utopia ?
Discussion
All the threads recently about how bikes dont work for urban transport and how the EV is an evolutionary blind alley I was wondering what we see as a group as the future for personal transport.
Some seem to advocate more cars, preferably V8 petrol burning ones, but the fuel will run out and aside from enthusiasts, about 1 percent of the population, that isnt going to be what happens.
So, where will be be say, in 2050, 36 years from now, I will be 80 by then if my diet doesnt get me by then
Assuming we havent all been wiped out, how will we get about, how do you think it will be, how should it be ?
Will the autonomous car be commonplace ?
What we use as fuel ?
Some seem to advocate more cars, preferably V8 petrol burning ones, but the fuel will run out and aside from enthusiasts, about 1 percent of the population, that isnt going to be what happens.
So, where will be be say, in 2050, 36 years from now, I will be 80 by then if my diet doesnt get me by then
Assuming we havent all been wiped out, how will we get about, how do you think it will be, how should it be ?
Will the autonomous car be commonplace ?
What we use as fuel ?
CrutyRammers said:
I don't know, but I'm sure that for the majority it will be automated and tedious.
I don't think I'm alone in thinking that if I worked and lived in the city I wouldn't want my everyday trip to work and back to be 'eventful' or 'exciting' in any way, I'd rather it was over as soon as possible with minimal effort. That is not to say that I don't enjoy a drive/trackday/test day/race!
On a semi realistic scale, I'd like some kind of electric vehicle that can do 200 REAL miles on a single charge, powered by solar panels mounted on the house which I plug it into each evening, with batteries sufficiently developed to be significantly more eco-friendly in production than the pumping and transport of petrol/diesel.
Then Petrol cars as weekend toys for car nutters. Diesels for long journeys where an EV isn't practical.
Oh... and make EV powered cars look like nice cars, rather than these nasty, crap versions of sci-fi film ideals.
That'd do me nicely. It'll never happen though - taxation will be a problem if I'm getting my fuel for free.
Then Petrol cars as weekend toys for car nutters. Diesels for long journeys where an EV isn't practical.
Oh... and make EV powered cars look like nice cars, rather than these nasty, crap versions of sci-fi film ideals.
That'd do me nicely. It'll never happen though - taxation will be a problem if I'm getting my fuel for free.
I think the autonomous car or at the very least, cars that can auto-follow on motorways in dedicated lanes at very high speeds might become commonplace. My commute at the moment involves 30+ miles of motorway and A road and ALL of the delays are caused by people who are poor drivers, be they indecisive or inattentive.
Unless this issue is resolved, personal transportation cannot continue to grow, certainly for commuting purposes. I imagine this will also be joined by EVs of some sort.
I'd still want the ability to drive an older car or a fun car obviously, you'd just have to stay away from the dedicated lanes.
Disclaimer: Not a fully thought out transportation solution
Unless this issue is resolved, personal transportation cannot continue to grow, certainly for commuting purposes. I imagine this will also be joined by EVs of some sort.
I'd still want the ability to drive an older car or a fun car obviously, you'd just have to stay away from the dedicated lanes.
Disclaimer: Not a fully thought out transportation solution
I think there is scope for the electric vehicle in the shorter term and then perhaps there would be a hydrogen switch too. Generated from nuclear power when it gets realised thats the cleanest way to get tons of energy.
With the electric car I see the problem is that we need hot swappable recharging stations. So underground it has a circular cartridge and takes your car from the BlueTooth alignable removable tray with the battery, gives you a new charged one. I can think of 2 massive benefits to this. 1. You get on your way within 3 or 4 mins like a petrol refill and 2. If the batteries have a few faults this can be spread across all users and insured collectively instead of one guy having to fork out 5k for new batteries and replacing them ( as the cars at the moment are not designed around getting them in and out.) Also if there are any upgrades to be had then these can be shipped to the station and so have a newer longer life battery available for another price in the recharging drum.
I commute by cycle take the tube for £30 per week and can't complain that much but outside of London its just not feasible to force people onto public transport outside the M25 in a lot of cases. So I am alreadyt he hobbyist motorist I predict will happen.
With the electric car I see the problem is that we need hot swappable recharging stations. So underground it has a circular cartridge and takes your car from the BlueTooth alignable removable tray with the battery, gives you a new charged one. I can think of 2 massive benefits to this. 1. You get on your way within 3 or 4 mins like a petrol refill and 2. If the batteries have a few faults this can be spread across all users and insured collectively instead of one guy having to fork out 5k for new batteries and replacing them ( as the cars at the moment are not designed around getting them in and out.) Also if there are any upgrades to be had then these can be shipped to the station and so have a newer longer life battery available for another price in the recharging drum.
I commute by cycle take the tube for £30 per week and can't complain that much but outside of London its just not feasible to force people onto public transport outside the M25 in a lot of cases. So I am alreadyt he hobbyist motorist I predict will happen.
HustleRussell said:
CrutyRammers said:
I don't know, but I'm sure that for the majority it will be automated and tedious.
I don't think I'm alone in thinking that if I worked and lived in the city I wouldn't want my everyday trip to work and back to be 'eventful' or 'exciting' in any way, I'd rather it was over as soon as possible with minimal effort. That is not to say that I don't enjoy a drive/trackday/test day/race!
J4CKO said:
Herbs said:
I'd love a tron type bike as a car - single seater with head forward, chest down driving position. Lightweight and all about acceleration and handling 
Head as a crumple zone ?That isnt the future, You just like Jeff Bridges in a Neon body stocking
You can wear neon body stockings if you like, but I'll stick with my own clothes, which are better for concealing my
J4CKO said:
All the threads recently about how bikes dont work for urban transport and how the EV is an evolutionary blind alley I was wondering what we see as a group as the future for personal transport.
Some seem to advocate more cars, preferably V8 petrol burning ones, but the fuel will run out and aside from enthusiasts, about 1 percent of the population, that isnt going to be what happens.
So, where will be be say, in 2050, 36 years from now, I will be 80 by then if my diet doesnt get me by then
Assuming we havent all been wiped out, how will we get about, how do you think it will be, how should it be ?
Will the autonomous car be commonplace ?
What we use as fuel ?
I think EV's have a place, at least for city use. But they just aren't practical for entire populace and for people who don't have off street parking.Some seem to advocate more cars, preferably V8 petrol burning ones, but the fuel will run out and aside from enthusiasts, about 1 percent of the population, that isnt going to be what happens.
So, where will be be say, in 2050, 36 years from now, I will be 80 by then if my diet doesnt get me by then
Assuming we havent all been wiped out, how will we get about, how do you think it will be, how should it be ?
Will the autonomous car be commonplace ?
What we use as fuel ?
So on this basis alone, they will never replace the IC engine. But for the short to medium term I suspect to see more of them.
I think personal transport (and public) will however move to more and more efficient versions of current IC based engines and maybe larger use of hybrid to reduce 'local' pollution. But I think the next big leap will be in alternative and synthetic fuels. There are already many growable types of biofuel. Refining these to more efficient levels and mass growing will ensure the IC engine continues to dominate.
J4CKO said:
Herbs said:
I'd love a tron type bike as a car - single seater with head forward, chest down driving position. Lightweight and all about acceleration and handling
Head as a crumple zone ?That isnt the future, You just like Jeff Bridges in a Neon body stocking
Based only on my Top Gear / James may knowledge of them, Hydrogen vehicles seem to be the right way to go.
Infrastructure increases the expense currently, but only due to the low volume of users.
EV probably have a future.
My daily commute is only 9 miles each way (recently increased 300% due to a move). Often I commute on a zx6r (unless its icy, or I dont feel like it) and I'd consider changing to something like a 600cc equivalent Electric bike, if they were affordable.
I looked into the change but I'd be able to buy a hell of a lot of fuel and maintenance for my bike for the price difference.
Infrastructure increases the expense currently, but only due to the low volume of users.
EV probably have a future.
My daily commute is only 9 miles each way (recently increased 300% due to a move). Often I commute on a zx6r (unless its icy, or I dont feel like it) and I'd consider changing to something like a 600cc equivalent Electric bike, if they were affordable.
I looked into the change but I'd be able to buy a hell of a lot of fuel and maintenance for my bike for the price difference.
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